IPS 


UC-NRLF 


sits?          THE 
,  - ,  TAHQUITCH 

M    MAIDEN 

VM 


A  TALE  OF  THE 
SAN  JACINTOS 


\ 


Main  Lib. 


THE  TAHQUITCH 
MAIDEN  : 


"THE  TRIBE  OF  MY  PEOPLE  I 

HAVE  SEEN  DIE,  AND  THEIR  NAME  HAS 

BEEN  FORGOTTEN.   BUT  I  LIVE  ON 

*»  SHALL  EVER  LIVE,  BLESSED 

WITH  ENDURING  YOUTH 

AND  HAPPINESS." 

BY 

PHEBE  ESTELLE 
SPALDING 


ILLUSTRATED 


PAUL  ELDER  ^  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS  :  SAN  FRANCISCO 


TO  MY  COMRADES 
IN  CLASS  AFIELD 


Copyright,  1911 

by  Paul  Elder  and  Company 

San  Francisco 


PREFACE 

Tahquitch  Mountain  is  one  of  the  peaks  of  the 
celebrated  San  Jacinto  range.  Its  contour  is  pe 
culiar,  and  on  its  summit  is  a  huge  rock  known  as 
Tahquitch  Rock.  The  Indians  aver  that  this  rock 
covers  the  doorway  of  the  deep  cave  in  which 
Tahquitch  (Devil)  dwells.  Thither,  in  misty  leg 
end,  was  borne  centuries  ago  an  Indian  maiden 
of  a  tribe  now  unknown;  and  to  her  unwilling 
company  were  added  later,  other  beautiful  maid 
ens  whom  Tahquitch  from  time  to  time  captured 
from  neighboring  tribes. 

A  curious  rumbling  of  the  mountain  occurs  in 
certain  of  the  summer  months ;  and  the  Indians 
believe  that  this  phenomenon  is  caused  by  the 
violent  anger  of  Tahquitch  when  his  quest  for  a 
new  bride  is  unsuccessful,  or  by  the  restlessness 
of  his  cave-imprisoned  victims. 

This  legend,  especially  in  recent  years,  has  un 
dergone  numerous  changes  of  form  and  interpre 
tation,  until  it  is  become  one  of  the  most  inter 
esting  and  significant  of  the  many  blended  fancies 
of  the  red  man  and  the  white,  which  go  to  make 
up  the  unique  poetic  lore  of  California, 


248405 


THE 

TAHQUITCH 
MAIDEN 

T  WAS  a  perfect  August  day  in 
the  San  Jacinto  Mountains. 
The  morning  dew  still  lay 
upon  the  grass,  but  the  early 
mists  which  hover  as  bene 
dictions  over  the  heated  lower 
plains,  were  unneeded  in  the  cooler  air  of 
our  highland  camp ;  and  the  soft  blue  of 
the  summer  sky  suggested  only  rest  and 
comfort. 

My  hammock  was  swung  under  the 
centuried  pines  of  Strawberry  Valley.  I 
had  slipped  away  from  the  family  tents 
on  the  pretense  of  reading  the  Inferno; 
but  the  gentle  soughing  of  the  pines,  the 
drowsy  murmur  of  the  flies  which  live 
even  in  mountain  climes,  and  the  subdued 
hum  of  my  companion-campers'  voices 

1 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

threw  me  quite  out  of  conceit  with  scenes 
of  the  lower  world.  My  book  fell  from  my 
hands,  and  my  half-closed  eyes  followed 
unreproved  my  wandering  thoughts. 

Flecks  of  white  cloud  now  floated  in  the 
air,  now  touched  the  summits  of  the  range 
surrounding  us,  and  brought  out  with 
amazing  distinctness  the  dim  outlines  of 
hill  and  peak.  Huge  Tahquitch  looked 
benignly  down,  and  I  could  almost  fancy 
that  I  saw  the  hoary  head  of  old  San  Jack 
from  above  the  line  of  intervening  hills. 

Suddenly  I  heard  a  sharp  "  Hello  "  from 
the  direction  of  the  kitchen  camp,  followed 
by  Tom's  generous  "  Howdy "  in  reply. 
Turning  my  head  I  saw  an  alert  individ 
ual  in  jeans  and  sombrero,  with  a  dreary- 
looking  pony  grazing  at  his  side.  The 
man  was  talking  eagerly,  flinging  his  stal 
wart  arm  in  the  direction  of  the  mountain 
whither  my  vagrant  thoughts  had  just 
been  turning. 

"Can  he  be  the  discoverer  of  a  new 
mine  ?  "  I  wondered  lazily.  "  Or  perhaps  a 
peddler  of  curios?  Well,  he  shall  not  dis- 

2 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

turb  me ! "  and  I  settled  back  into  my  ham 
mock  and  took  up  my  book  with  sudden 
energy.  But  Cousin  Tom  had  spied  me 
peering  over  my  pillow,  and  in  a  moment 
he  and  his  merry  young  wife  and  Cousin 
Mollie  closed  about  my  swinging  couch. 

"  Oh,  we've  such  a  splendid  chance  to 
go  to  San  Jacinto  peak  tomorrow! "  they 
cried  in  a  breath.  And  Cousin  Mollie 
added,  "  It  is  the  one  trip  needed  to  make 
this  the  happiest  summer  on  record.  How 
ridiculous  that  we  ever  thought  of  going 
home  without  making  it ! " 

Then  Tom  went  on :  "  The  whole  affair 
takes  only  three  days ;  the  trail  is  as  easy 
as  a  floor,  the  guide  says,  and  the  expense 
just  nothing  at  all ! "  And  when  I  did  not 
answer, "  Why  do  you  look  so  glum  ?  You 
didn't  suppose  we  meant  to  leave  you, 
did  you?  Of  course  you  are  going  with 
us."  And  the  girls  echoed,  "Of  course, 
of  course ! " 

I  turned  upon  my  cousins  with  indig 
nant  scorn. 

"  Children,"  I  cried,  "  what  are  you  talk- 

3 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


ing  about?  Are  you  mad,  clean,  stark 
mad?  I  never  rode  a  horse.  I  never  saw 
a  mountain  trail.  I  should  starve  on  ba 
con  and  dry  bread.  I  am  afraid  to  death 
of  rattlesnakes  and  bears.  Do  you  think 
I  am  an  idiot?  Of  course  I  will  not  go!" 

"Oh,  now,"  wheedled  Tom,  "don't  get 
excited.  I'll  wager  you  will  enjoy  it  the 
best  of  any  of  us.  I  tell  you  the  trail  is 
nothing.  Rattlesnakes!  and  bears!  Be 
sides  you  are  our  guest,  and  we  can't  go 
and  leave  you  behind." 

" Only  think  of  the  view! "  shouted  the 
girls. 

"  Go  to  the  mountains  of  the  moon,  if 
you  feel  inclined,"  was  my  steadfast  an 
swer,  "and  take  the  view  with  you.  I  shall 
never,  never  leave  Strawberry  Valley  on 
any  such  reckless  venture." 

But  even  as  I  spoke  I  felt  that  sinking 
of  the  heart  which  portends  defeat  to  fool 
ish  souls.  As  for  my  objections,  Tom  swept 
them  away  as  though  they  were  chaff  and 
he  a  mighty  wind.  In  mute  despair  I 
turned  to  pater-  and  materfamilias  who 

4 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


had  joined  the  group.  Alas,  for  the  first 
time  they  failed  me.  So,  when  there  was 
no  longer  help  in  man — or  woman  —  I 
yielded,  firmly  convinced  that  I  should 
never  see  friends  or  kindred  again,  railing 
at  my  own  weakness  of  will.  But  my  good 
angel  fluttered  near,  and  so  I  went. 

I  need  not  dwell  upon  the  perils  of  the 
way.  Sliding  stones  and  slipping  mules, 
frightened  horses  and  snapping  cinches — 
these  are  only  incidents.  He  is  preparing 
a  gruesome  future  for  himself  who  asserts 
that  Tahquitch  trail  is  "easy!"  More  than 
once,  as  my  unwilling  bronco  balked  or 
stumbled  or  insisted  upon  a  wholly  untrod 
path,  my  frightened  lips  framed — not  a 
prayer !  Then  I  girded  anew  the  loins  of 
my  resolution  and  clung  yet  more  franti 
cally  to  the  neck  of  my  disgusted  steed. 

At  noon  we  reached  our  first  resting- 
place,  a  little  valley  just  at  the  base  of  old 
Tahquitch.  Then,  fear  almost  forgot,  the 
glorious  wonder  of  the  way  took  posses 
sion  of  me.  Even  now,  as  I  recall  that  first 
highland  camp,  a  dreamy  restfulness  steals 

5 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


over  mind  and  heart.  The  soft,  abundant 
verdure  of  that  rugged  floor;  the  girded 
strength  of  the  everlasting  hills;  the  bur 
den  of  myth  and  legend  investing  every 
peak  and  rock  and  valley  with  half-sug 
gested  mystery — it  was  worth  the  labor, 
was  it  worth  the  fear? 

Our  resting  space  was  all  too  brief,  and 
again  we  mounted  our  still  wearied  horses. 
Another  ride  of  terrors,  and  we  camped 
for  the  night  at  the  very  foot  of  the  lordly 
peak  we  were  to  scale  next  day.  Hardly 
a  more  enchanting  spot  can  be  imagined 
than  the  little  valley  nest,  apparently  cre 
ated  for  our  immediate  needs.  Huge  cliffs 
of  rock  on  one  side  shut  us  protectingly 
from  the  lofty  range  of  hills  beyond.  On 
the  side  opposite,  the  hills  came  down  to 
the  very  edge  of  the  valley,  but  lovingly, 
with  no  hint  of  the  treacherous  ravines 
which  scar  their  slopes.  Beyond  loomed 
the  hoary  head  of  San  Jacinto — threaten 
ing,  awful,  grand. 

After  our  meager  supper  we  prepared 
our  beds  of  fragrant  pine,  topped  with  enor- 

6 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


mous  blankets.  That  done,  we  gathered 
around  the  blazing  camp-fire;  and  then 
followed  tales  of  aboriginal  California, 
Tom's  valiant  stunt — an  alleged  Indian 
waltz — songs  and  songs,  and  bye-and-bye 
the  glorious  chant,  "  I  will  lift  up  mine 
eyes  unto  the  hills."  At  ten  o'clock  the 
embers  of  our  cook-fires  and  the  flickering 
camp  blaze  were  the  only  visible  signs  of 
life. 

Our  sleeping-rooms  were  scattered  here 
and  there,  marked  by  different  groups  of 
stalwart  trees.  Mollie  and  I,  for  economy 
of  warmth,  made  our  bed  together  under 
a  clump  of  gigantic  pines,  taller  and  larger 
than  I  had  deemed  it  possible  for  pines  to 
grow.  Mollie,  careful  of  my  health  and 
comfort,  went  to  sleep  upon  the  windward 
side,  and  in  just  compensation  for  her  gen 
erosity  claimed  the  heavier  portion  of  the 
clothing.  I  felt  the  force  of  her  philosophy, 
but  philosophy  would  not  keep  me  warm. 
My  teeth  chattered  and  I  could  not  sleep. 
Moreover  visions  of  the  return  over  Tah- 
quitch  trail  haunted  me.  As  the  probable 

7 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

catastrophes  of  descent  were  borne  in  up 
on  my  mind  I  groaned  aloud.  Why  had 
I  undertaken  this  wild  scheme?  Could  I 
ever  ride  down  those  shelving  rocks?  Per 
haps  I  should  fall  over  the  precipice  where, 
the  guide  assured  us,  a  horse  had  rolled 
the  year  before.  Perhaps,  and  perhaps — 
I  had  lain  awake  too  many  weary  hours 
not  to  recognize  the  symptoms.  I  was  in 
for  a  sleepless  night. 

I  raised  myself  upon  my  elbow  and 
looked  about  me.  When  had  I  ever  seen 
such  another  night!  The  moon  was  full 
and  almost  at  its  zenith.  The  tall  pines 
waved  their  tops  gently  in  the  breezes  of 
an  upper  atmosphere.  The  lower  moun 
tain  wind  swept  in  gusts  through  the 
valley.  The  camp-fire  blaze  still  burned 
dully  in  the  stronger  light  of  the  glorious 
moon.  The  shadows  of  the  mountain 
stood  out  in  the  clear  moonlight  as  sharply 
defined  as  in  the  day.  I  looked  at  my 
watch — it  was  half-past  twelve;  one;  two. 
The  night  grew  every  moment  more  ra 
diant,  but  would  it  never  end? 

8 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


I  had  just  returned  my  watch  to  my 
pillow  for  the  dozenth  time,  and  had  risen 
at  last  to  stir  into  circulation  my  frozen 
blood,  when  my  ear  caught  a  low,  peculiar 
rumble,  unlike  anything  I  had  ever  heard 
before.  I  stood  motionless,  too  frightened 
to  rouse  Mollie,  yet  consciously  wondering 
why  she  and  the  others  did  not  wake. 
A  moment  —  and  then  I  said  to  myself, 
"  It  is  an  earthquake  " ;  but  knew  perfectly 
it  was  not.  Another  rumble;  another — 
louder,  nearer,  close  at  hand.  My  fear  was 
almost  lost  in  wonder.  Suddenly  I  cried: 
"It  is  the  Tahquitch  spirits!" 
Mollie  moved  uneasily,  disturbed  by  my 
voice.  I  was  on  the  point  of  waking  her 
still  further  when  the  noise  ceased.  I  had 
forgotten  the  cold,  but  my  teeth  chattered 
now  from  excitement.  I  waited  five,  ten 
minutes  —  it  seemed  hours.  Reluctantly  I 
returned  to  my  bed  and  nestled  under  my 
pitiable  corner  of  blanket,  but  it  had  no 
warmth  for  me  and  in  a  moment  I  threw 
it  off  and  sat  up  listening  eagerly.  Mollie 
still  slept  on. 

9 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


"I  will  not  waken  her  if  I  hear  the 
sound  again,"  I  said  to  myself.  "  Perhaps 
her  lack  of  faith  in  unseen  beings  forbids 
any  manifestation  in  her  presence." 

I  had  scarcely  formed  the  thought  when 
I  heard  once  more  the  rumble,  more  dis 
tinct,  nearer  every  instant.  In  spite  of  my 
eagerness  to  hear  and  see,  I  am  confident 
that  every  hair  of  my  head  began  to  rise. 
Audibly  sounder  slept  my  doughty  cousin. 

Suddenly  the  rumble  ceased,  and  a  sharp 
gust  of  wind  swept  down  from  the  moun 
tain  which  lay  at  my  right.  I  turned  my 
face  in  that  direction.  The  height  was 
enveloped  in  a  mist,  and  a  light  mist, 
hardly  more  than  a  haze,  floated  in  the  air 
around  me.  While  I  looked  it  began  to 
assume  form  and  color.  It  was  a  horrible 
dragon  with  outstretched  claws  and  yawn 
ing  mouth ;  no,  a  man-warrior  with  flecks 
of  blood  upon  his  shield.  But  even  as  I 
looked  the  awful  presence  took  the  dim 
outlines  of  a  woman's  shape.  I  pinched 
myself.  I  was  wide  awake. 

A  moment  more,  and  the  figure  stood 

10 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


out,  distinct  as  the  clear  lines  of  the  land 
scape  —  a  woman  having  the  dark  copper 
skin  and  the  gleaming  eyes  of  the  Indian 
race,  but  with  the  height  and  bearing  of 
the  stateliest  Caucasian.  Her  long  blanket 
of  scarlet  and  white  hung  trailing  from 
her  shoulder.  Scarlet  cords  were  around 
her  wrists  and  ankles.  A  glittering  chain 
of  shells  and  nuggets  encircled  her  neck, 
and  a  single  massive  nugget  shone  in  her 
long,  black  hair  which  was  held  in  place 
by  a  scarlet  band.  She  raised  her  arm  in 
a  gesture,  perhaps  of  silence.  The  hand 
was  large  and  perfect  and  the  arm  well 
moulded.  She  looked  at  me  a  moment 
and  then  spoke. 

"  I  am  the  Tahquitch  Maiden.  My  peo 
ple  have  many  legends  regarding  me,  but 
no  Red  man  has  seen  my  form  nor  heard 
my  voice  since  the  day  I  disappeared  from 
yonder  valley.  For  many  generations  I 
have  dwelt  upon  the  peak  named  for  the 
Evil  Spirit,  whom  my  Indian  kin  believe 
I  serve.  Often  I  have  yearned  to  tell  the 
story  of  my  fate — a  fate  so  strange  that 

11 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


none  have  guessed  aright  its  cause  and 
meaning.  Often  I  have  left  my  rocky  for 
tress  to  hover  near  to  them  who  seemed 
of  mind  and  spirit  like  my  own.  But  I 
have  sought  their  comradeship  in  vain. 
In  a  long  round  of  years,  once  only  am  I 
seen  or  may  I  speak.  Whenever,  upon 
the  anniversary  of  the  last  night  of  my 
stay  among  my  people,  another  golden 
moon  lights  up  these  scenes  of  beauty, 
if  any  wander  near  these  mountain  heights, 
whose  hearts  believe  in  truth  and  fortitude 
and  noble  love ;  if,  unsleeping,  they  have 
watched  throughout  the  hours  which 
mark  the  time  when  last  I  suffered  among 
mortals — to  them  I  may  appear  and  tell 
in  language  of  their  own  my  story. 

"This  is  the  fateful  night.  For  many 
scores  of  years  no  other  has  been  like  it ; 
and  no  one  lives  whose  heart  has  heard 
my  story." 

The  maiden  paused,  and  turned  her  face 
toward  the  mists  of  Tahquitch  Mountain. 
I  held  my  breath  in  silence,  but  my  gaze 
followed  hers.  The  distant  peaks  remained 

12 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

wrapped  in  clouds,  which  seemed  too  dense 
for  sun  ever  to  lighten. 

"Until  they  melt  away,"  she  said,  fol 
lowing  my  thought,  "none  call  me  to 
return." 

Then  she  began  her  story. 

"My  father  was  the  chief  of  a  noble 
tribe,  now  vanished  from  the  earth,  then 
filling  the  valley  named  for  its  burden  of 
wild  strawberry.  My  mother  was  a  maiden 
of  a  tribe  removed  from  here,  far  to  the 
east — perhaps  a  tribe  of  your  own  race. 
At  least  she  differed  much  from  my  father's 
people  in  face  and  form  and  mind.  I  have 
heard  few  words  regarding  her,  and  my 
memory  of  her  grace  and  beauty  is  but 
the  memory  of  a  child.  Of  gentle  heart 
she  must  have  been,  and  my  father,  a 
stern,  strong  warrior  among  warlike  men, 
made  her  his  idol. 

"I  was  an  only  child,  and  I  grew  up 
as  other  Indian  children,  with  few  events 
to  make  my  years  remembered.  By  my 
mother  I  was  fondly  loved;  my  father 
gave  me  little  care  or  notice.  Nothing 

13 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

stands  clear  in  my  past  until  one  day, 
while  I  was  still  a  child,  there  came  a 
great  change  in  my  life.  My  father,  with 
many  stalwart  braves,  had  gone  upon  a 
bloody  expedition  against  a  powerful  foe 
some  distance  to  the  south,  leaving  behind 
a  small  band  of  men  to  guard  our  camp. 
These  set  out  one  morning  to  hunt  the 
deer  which  then,  more  fearlessly  than  now, 
roamed  over  the  neighboring  hills.  At 
nightfall  they  had  not  returned,  nor  did 
they  ever  come. 

"All  that  day,  haunted  by  a  prophecy 
of  evil,  my  mother  wandered  pale  and 
anxious  about  the  camp.  The  stolid  Indian 
women,  themselves  unmoved  by  threat 
of  danger,  grumbled  together  at  her  rest 
lessness  and  fear,  but  to  her  they  said  no 
word.  As  the  afternoon  wore  away  she 
could  control  herself  no  longer.  Taking  my 
hand  she  led  me  into  the  little  teepee 
which,  contrary  to  the  custom  of  Indian 
men,  my  father  had  built  for  her  with  his 
own  hands,  beside  the  valley  stream. 

"When  we  were  alone  and  sheltered 

14 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

from  the  gaze  of  her  hard-faced  compan 
ions,  she  took  me  in  her  arms  and  threw 
herself  with  me  upon  her  couch  of  skins. 
Then  she  wept.  I,  who  had  never  seen  a 
man  or  woman  weep,  was  filled  with  a 
strange,  wild  fear.  I  struggled  in  her 
arms,  and  when  her  tight  clasp  forced  me 
to  lie  still,  I  lay  panting  with  fright.  Soon, 
seeing  my  terror,  she  checked  her  sobs 
and  stroked  my  long  shining  hair  until  my 
fears  were  hushed.  Then  she  said : 

"  '  Child,  you  are  of  your  father's  mould 
and  spirit.  You  will  become  his  pride  and 
joy,  as  I  have  been  his  love.  Something 
tells  me  that  soon  I  shall  go  far  from  you, 
into  another  land,  among  another  people. 
You  will  know  little  of  your  mother's  life 
or  love;  for  death  will  seal  her  lips,  and 
pride  and  love  and  grief  your  father's. 
Her  kindred  will  be  strangers  to  you,  for 
they  are  far  distant  from  this  place  and 
people,  and  when  she  left  them  to  follow 
one  she  better  loved,  they  ceased  to  speak, 
perhaps  to  think  of  her.  Yet  they  are  noble 
and  true  and  tender,  and  sometime  they 

15 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


will  bring  to  you,  perhaps,  sympathy  more 
than  your  father's  race  can  give.  But  this 
is  not  the  thing  I  long  to  say.  I  would 
leave  with  you  another  message  straight 
from  your  mother's  heart. 

"'Love  fills  the  measure  of  a  woman's 
life.  Fear  not  to  take  and  give.  But  when 
suitors  come  to  you  from  this  and  other 
tribes,  choose  from  them  not  at  all  or  else 
choose  worthily.  Rank,  possessions,  power 
are  glittering  ornaments,  but  look  not  long 
on  them.  Let  your  heart  rest  on  him 
whose  soul  meets  yours  and  at  its  best.' 

"  That  night  our  camp  was  entered  by 
the  stealthy  foe  who  had  surprised  and 
killed  our  band  of  hunters.  My  mother 
slew  with  her  own  hands  the  dark-faced 
warrior  who  had  rushed  into  our  tent  to 
take  me  captive.  She  in  turn  was  pierced 
by  the  poisoned  arrow  of  another  of  the 
enemy.  At  midnight  she  lay  dead. 

"  Before  the  first  glow  of  another  sun 
rise  had  touched  yon  peak,  my  father  re 
turned  laden  with  spoils  from  a  vanquished 
foe.  But  his  chant  of  victory  was  changed 

16 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


to  wailing.  All  that  day  he  mourned  alone ; 
but  when  midnight  came  again,  he  sum 
moned  all  his  people,  and,  with  solemn 
dance  and  dirge,  they  buried  my  mother 
beside  the  stream  where  she  had  dwelt. 
Then  he  wreaked  upon  the  enemy  who 
had  despoiled  his  home,  vengeance  un 
speakable. 

"  After  my  mother's  death  my  father's 
heart  was  turned  toward  me.  I  became 
his  frequent  companion.  Near  the  spot 
where  my  mother's  teepee  once  stood,  one 
was  reared  for  me.  Indian  maidens  waited 
upon  me  to  do  my  bidding.  Indian  youths 
brought  gifts  from  the  forest  and  the  sea. 
As  I  grew  into  womanhood,  I  kept  my 
mother's  skill  and  quickness;  I  was  like  her, 
too,  in  form  and  bearing.  But  I  was  like 
my  father  in  my  dark  face  and  hair  and, 
most  of  all,  in  my  unconquerable  spirit. 
As  my  mother  had  predicted,  I  became 
his  pride  and  joy.  Braves  from  our  own 
tribe  sought  my  hand,  but  I  gave  no  sign  of 
pleasure;  and  for  a  time  my  father  seemed 
content.  At  length  my  haughty  beauty 

17 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


was  known  outside  my  people,  and  dark- 
browed  warriors  came  from  other  tribes 
to  win  my  favor.  Some  brought  gifts  of 
skins  and  shells,  gold,  woven  blankets,  and 
trophies  of  their  strifes,  and  lay  them  at 
my  feet.  Some  performed  before  me  feats 
of  skill  or  of  endurance ;  some  boasted  their 
rank  and  power.  When  they  told  my 
father  of  their  gifts  or  asked  him  for  my 
hand,  at  first  he  smoked  in  silence.  Then, 
when  many  went  away  unsatisfied  or  dis 
pleased,  he  turned  questioningly  to  me. 

"'What  would  you  have?'  he  asked, 
and  a  gleam  of  anger  showed  itself  in  his 
dark  face. 

"'I  would  have  the  one  I  choose,  as 
strong  and  brave  as  these/  I  answered 
proudly,  'but  something  more.  No  one  of 
these  has  touched  my  heart.  They  are  all 
selfish  and  untrue.  Something  tells  me  to 
choose  no  one  among  them/ 

"  This  I  said  truly;  but  more  than  spoken 
cause  was  the  remembrance  of  my  moth 
er's  words, '  Set  your  heart  on  him  whose 
soul  meets  yours  and  at  its  best/ 

18 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


"  My  father  uttered  only  the  grim '  Ugh ! ' 
which  meant,  I  knew,  a  latent  wrath;  and 
for  the  first  time  I  was  touched  with  a 
vague  uneasiness. 

"  Soon  other  suitors  came  and  went.  I 
grew  at  length  anxious  and  unhappy. 
When  would  a  lover  come  whose  soul 
was  true,  whose  heart  moved  mine?  My 
father  made  me  daily  less  his  companion. 
At  last,  when  a  young  chief  from  the  most 
powerful  of  our  neighboring  tribes,  offer 
ing  his  gifts  in  vain,  turned  wrathfully 
away,  my  father  looked  at  me  a  moment 
in  dark  displeasure.  Then  he  led  me  to  the 
mighty  oak  which  grew  upon  the  outskirts 
of  our  camp.  It  was  the  Tree  of  Judgment, 
and  underneath  its  spreading  boughs  had 
many  a  trembling  victim  heard  his  dire 
ful  sentence. 

"'No  maiden  of  our  tribe  has  lived  un- 
wedded,' he  began.  '  You  shall  not  disgrace 
me  nor  my  people.  Other  maidens  are 
given,  without  wish  of  their  own,  by  chief 
or  parent  to  whom  these  will.  You  are 
the  daughter  of  a  chief.  To  you  I  grant 

19 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


the  gift  of  choosing ;  but  choose  you  must. 
Though  you  were  ten  times  worthy; 
though  your  beauty  moved  the  gods 
above, — one  from  the  mortals  who  seek 
your  hand  you  still  shall  wed.  Or,  if  you 
fail,  in  three  moons  you  shall  die/ 

"  He  said,  but  his  words  fell  upon  a  heart 
as  proud  as  his;  a  will  as  strong  as  his  to 
to  do  or  to  endure.  Yet  I  loved  life,  and 
longed,  too,  with  all  a  maiden's  fervor,  for 
a  heart  which  should  control  my  own. 
The  days  went  on,  and  no  one  appeared 
whom  I  could  love  and  trust.  The  war 
riors  and  maidens  of  our  tribe  perceived 
my  father's  anger  and  held  me  in  con 
tempt.  Those  who  had  served  me  ceased 
to  do  my  bidding.  Old  women  turned  hard 
faces  toward  me  and  muttered  curses 
whenever  I  went  near  them.  But  my  will 
was  still  unconquered  and  my  pride  un 
bent.  Like  a  queen  I  moved  among  the 
petty  beings  whom  once  I  had  ruled.  My 
father  no  longer  looked  upon  me.  My 
heart  yearned  for  his  love  but  I  could  not 
speak;  I  would  not  yield.  No  human  be- 

20 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


ing  praised,  nor  gave  me  words  of  sym 
pathy,  save  one  alone. 

"  One  day  as  I  walked  near  the  stream, 
beside  whose  channel  had  flowed  the  good 
and  evil  of  my  life,  a  crippled  youth,  a 
white  captive  whom  my  father,  moved  by 
strange  feeling,  once  had  saved  from  death, 
suddenly  appeared  before  me  from  behind 
a  neighboring  tree.  Without  the  word  of 
formal  welcome  wherewith  he  had  been 
used  to  greet  me,  he  said,  and  looked  not 
at  me  as  he  spoke,  but  at  the  mountain 
rock  which  hung  above  our  camp : 

"'Brave  daughter  of  your  mother's  peo 
ple,  you  have  done  well.  Endure.  God — 
Manitou— will  not  forget/ 

"In  a  moment  he  was  gone.  I,  who  had 
heard  for  long  days  no  friendly  voice  and 
who,  hidden  within  my  heart,  carried  no 
little  of  my  mother's  tenderness,  sank  upon 
the  spot  where  I  was  standing  and  wept 
for  joy. 

"That  night  the  youth  was  burned  be 
neath  the  Judgment  Tree. 

"At  last  arrived  the  day  when  I  must 

21 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


die;  for  none  had  come  whom  I  could 
choose,  and  the  strong  words  of  the  dead 
youth  had  helped  me  to  endure.  At  sun 
rise  of  the  fatal  day,  my  father  called  a 
meeting  of  his  people.  Me  he  led  before 
them  into  the  shadow  of  the  dreaded  oak. 
When  every  woman  and  man  and  child 
had  come  into  his  presence,  he  spoke 
briefly: 

"  '  This  maid,  no  longer  child  of  mine, 
has  refused  to  do  my  will.  She  shall  die; 
but  she  shall  die  as  befits  the  time  when 
she  moved  among  you,  the  daughter  of  a 
chief.  When  the  moon  rises  full,  come 
again  into  this  place.' 

"To  me  he  said  no  word,  nor  looked 
upon  me.  All  the  long  hours  till  night  I 
spent  in  secret  dread,  but  with  no  signs  of 
fear  upon  my  face.  When  night  ap 
proached  I  robed  myself  as  now,  and  when 
the  messengers  came  to  lead  me  to  my 
death,  I  walked  erect  and  calm  as  I  had 
done  in  days  of  yore.  As  we  passed  the 
spot  whereon  my  mother's  teepee  once 
had  stood,  I  thought  I  saw  her  there  with 

22 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


hand  upraised  in  blessing.  I  felt  no  longer 
dread  or  fear. 

"  Beside  the  tree  where  I  had  stood  in 
judgment  twice  before,  was  reared  a  lofty 
pyre.  Thither  I  walked  and  with  firm  step 
mounted  to  its  top  unbound ;  for  the  proud 
heart  of  my  father  knew  that  I  would  never 
quail,  even  before  the  deadly  flames.  He, 
clad  in  the  garments  of  his  rank,  stood  be 
side  the  towering  mass,  and  when  I  reached 
its  summit  he  gave  a  gesture  of  command. 
At  once  a  slow  and  mournful  dirge  began, 
but  it  was  one  of  curses,  not  of  grief. 

"Then  gathered  round  the  spot  all 
whom  I  had  known  in  youth  and  child 
hood  —  warriors  whose  favor  I  had  slight 
ed;  maidens  jealous  of  my  power;  women 
who  had  known  my  mother  and  despised 
her  for  her  gentleness  and  beauty ;  chil 
dren,  half-grown  youths  who  looked  in 
taunting  wonder.  On  all  their  faces  was 
visible  exulting  joy.  Long  the  fearful 
dirge  continued,  and  with  each  succeeding 
measure  the  looks  of  hatred  and  of  tri 
umph  deepened. 

23 


THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 


"  When  at  last  the  dread  midnight  came 
and  passed,  my  father  hushed  the  crowd 
to  silence.  Then  he  stooped  and  lighted 
my  pyre  with  his  own  hand.  Once  only 
his  eyes  sought  mine,  and  in  that  loveless 
glance  I  saw — not  pity,  but  unbounded 
pride.  As  the  flames  rose  high  around  me, 
then,  indeed,  the  frenzied  triumph  of  the 
crowd  below  burst  from  all  bonds.  They 
danced  and  shouted  and  waved  their 
clumsy  weapons  in  the  air. 

"  Suddenly  a  crash  louder  than  the  loud 
est  thunder,  broke  through  the  shouts  of 
wild  excitement.  A  rumble  followed,  grow 
ing  every  moment  nearer.  The  men  and 
women  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground 
and  shrieked  with  terror.  The  fire  at  my 
feet  was  quenched.  A  lurid  mist  encircled 
Tahquitch  Mountain.  The  moon's  light 
was  covered  with  a  cloud.  Then  a  voice 
from  out  the  darkness  hushed  to  frightened 
stillness  the  cries  of  the  prostrate  people. 

"*O  child  of  noble  heart,'  it  said,  'you 
have  been  true.  Your  reward  shall  be  be 
yond  the  thought  of  mortals/ 

24 


•  ••'.'••.' 
•  '  •        ••••.*'••*" 

THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 

"In  an  instant  I  had  left  the  earth,  borne 
in  the  strong  arms  of  winged  warriors. 
They  carried  me  to  the  peak  which,  from 
that  time,  men  have  named,  in  mistaken 
faith,  for  the  Spirit  of  wrath  and  evil  doing. 

"  Since  that  day,  from  behind  my  stony 
fortress,  I  have  looked  down  upon  the 
deeds  and  ways  of  men;  but  no  earthly 
care  touches  me  with  sorrow.  Sheltered 
from  mortal  strife,  serene  among  the  gods 
I  live — happy,  content,  save  for  the  some 
time  yearning  of  my  still  human  heart  for 
human  warmth  and  understanding. 

"  The  tribe  of  my  people,  smitten  upon 
the  day  I  disappeared,  I  have  seen  die,  and 
their  name  has  been  forgotten.  The  oak 
under  which  I  stood,  captive  to  truth  and 
purity,  has  crumbled  to  the  earth;  but  I 
live  on  and  shall  ever  live,  blessed  with 
unfading  youth  and  happiness." 

Again  I  heard  the  low,  long  rumble 
which  had  startled  me  at  first.  The  clouds 
on  my  right  were  lifted.  The  first  rays  of 
the  rising  sun  touched  the  camp  with 
glory.  I  turned  my  eyes,  brimming  with 

25 


THE  TAHQ'UITCH  MAIDEN 


tears,  to  meet  its  splendor,  and  when  I 
looked  again,  the  maid  had  vanished. 

Mollie  still  slept  on.  The  stern  lines  of  San 
Jacinto  stood  out,  more  threatening  than 
beautiful.  Our  camping  horses  neighed, 
restive  under  their  night-long  tethers.  The 
trail  we  had  passed  the  day  before,  re 
mained  a  vague,  still  dreadful  memory; 
but  my  heart  was  free  from  terror.  I 
was  conscious  of  a  strange,  exultant  joy. 
What  to  me  were  crags  and  stones  and 
bursting  cinches  ?  What — hardship,  hun 
ger,  weariness?  What — the  matchless 
mountain  vision  we  should  soon  behold? 

I  had  seen  the  Tahquitch  Maiden! 


26 


HERE  ENDS  THE  TAHQUITCH  MAIDEN 
A  TALE  OF  THE  SAN  JACINTOS  TOLD 
BY  PHEBE  ESTELLE  SPALDING.  THE 
DECORATIONS  BYJEAN  OLIVER.  PUB 
LISHED  BY  PAUL  ELDER  0*  COMPANY 
AND  PRINTED  FOR  THEM  BY  THEIR 
TOMOYE  PRESS,  UNDER  THE  DIREC 
TION  OF  JOHN  HENRY  NASH,  IN  THE 
CITY  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO,  DURING  THE 
MONTH  OF  JULY  AND  YEAR  M  C  M  X  I. 


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